Share of adults who are overweight or obese in India
India: Share of adults who are overweight or obese was 31.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of adults who are overweight or obese in India, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of adults who are overweight or obese in India is 31.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 48.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who are overweight or obese in India peaked at 31.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 1980.
India ranks 172nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of adults who are overweight or obese in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.0% | — |
| 1981 | 3.2% | +7.5% |
| 1982 | 3.5% | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 3.7% | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 4.0% | +7.2% |
| 1985 | 4.3% | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 4.9% | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 5.2% | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 5.6% | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 5.9% | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 6.3% | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 7.1% | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 7.9% | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 8.4% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 8.9% | +6.0% |
| 1998 | 9.5% | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 10.0% | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 10.7% | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 11.3% | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 11.9% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 12.6% | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 13.3% | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 14.0% | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 14.8% | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 15.5% | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 16.3% | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 17.1% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 19.5% | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 20.4% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 21.4% | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 22.4% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 23.4% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 24.4% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 25.5% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 26.5% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 27.6% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 28.6% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 29.7% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 30.7% | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 31.8% | +3.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 31.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.7%, 78% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 31.8% is below the median for South Asia, which is 36.5%, 87% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.2% | 3.0% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 5.9% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.8% | 10.7% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.0% | 17.9% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.7% | 27.6% | 31.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who are overweight or obese in India?
- Share of adults who are overweight or obese in India was 31.8% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of adults who are overweight or obese recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 31.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults who are overweight or obese recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 1980.
- How does India rank for share of adults who are overweight or obese?
- India ranks 172nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who are overweight or obese rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults who are overweight or obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Overweight is defined here as a body mass index (BMI) above 25. BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters.